Portraits of Birds : Intaka Island | Kirstenbosch | Woodbridge Island

Portraits of Birds Cape Town / Cape Peninsula

Bird Life Intaka Island | Kirstenbosch Garden | Woodbridge Island

Speckled Pigeon: Portraits of Birds in Flight Woodbridge Island

Portraits of Birds / Birds in Flight
Birds (in Flight) photography can be challenging at times. Its never a certainty that a 100% well-framed images are going to end up in your camera's memory card.

Birds / Birds in Flight photographed at Intaka Island, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

From time to time I also end up with birds that's either to fast, I see them too late or perhaps they are to close to my 400mm lens. I end up of what I refer to as portrait shots - although my intension was the complete bird in flight.

If the images are in focus I will attempt to post-process them as Birds / Birds in Flight portraits.

Birds / Birds In Flight Portraits

• Speckled pigeon
• Sunbird
• Hadeda ibis
• African sacred ibis
• Cape cormorant
• African spoonbill
• Yellow-billed duck
• White-breasted cormorant
• Cape spurfowl
• Red-winged starling

Location
Diep River / Woodbridge Island / Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Canon Camera / Lens Settings

• Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
• Canon EOS 6D / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens
• Canon EOS 70D / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens
• Manual Mode: Auto-ISO: 320 - 640 / Aperture: f/5.6 / Shutter Speed: 1/1000s - 1/3200s
• AI Servo: Case 1: Wide Zone AF / 10 fps High Speed Continuous Mode (EOS 7D Mark II)
• AI Servo: Zone AF / 7 fps High Speed Continuous Mode (EOS 70D)

Post-Processing

• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic: Cropping. Colour correction / noise reduction / lens profile correction.

Cape Shoveler Duck : Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

Upside Down Sunbird Portrait Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Hadeda Ibis Portrait Woodbridge Island Milnerton

African Sacred Ibis Portrait Woodbridge Island Milnerton

Portrait of a Cape Cormorant over The Diep River Woodbridge Island Milnerton

Portrait of an African Spoonbill over The Diep River Woodbridge Island Milnerton

Portrait of a Yellow-Billed Duck over The Diep River Woodbridge Island Milnerton

White-Breasted Cormorant Portrait Intaka Island Cape Town

Cape Spurfowl Portrait Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town

Red-Winged Starling Porret Intaka Island, Cape Town

Juvenile Helmeted Guinea Fowl Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Town

Birds in Flight Photography Skills Development Cape Town View

Bird Species Woodbridge Island, Cape Town View

Bird Species Kirstenbosch Garden View

Glorious Morning at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden View

Intaka Island birds / Birds in Flight Training Session View

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

Minimum Intel Hardware for Lightroom Post-Processing

Minimum Intel Hardware Requirements For Lightroom Image Processing

Boosting Performance of an older Intel / Windows 10 PC

Adobe Lightroom Classic Version 14 : Development Module (Intel Desktop)

Minimum Intel System Specifications for Lightroom Classic Image Processing

I regard the Intel-based hardware specifications I used for post-processing the images in my post
A Morning at Kirstenbosch Garden... in quite a few ways as an entry-level standard for editing / post-processing bulk RAW images when using Adobe Lightroom Classic.

Raw Image Editing / Post-Processing

I generally use an Intel i5 Acer Extensa desktop workstation computer with 16GB DDR4 (Dual-Channel) RAM paired with 2x 24" Samsung LED monitors. Although these are minimum specifications it is still adequate for my personal requirements. The i5 CPU processing / additional VRAM on a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is in my opinion producing quite a substantial performance increase in terms of personal productivity (mainly image processing management / speed and RAW to JPG exporting. Current GPU: Arktek NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 4GB GDDR5 Memory. I don't play any games and find the image processing speed satisfactory when moderately editing a few hundred Canon CR2 / CR3 files in Lightroom Classic Version 14.

Adding a Dedicated GPU for Lightroom Processing

A dedicated GPU will enhance image post-processing performance from any shared Video RAM from the Intel CPU on the motherboard (i.e. Intel UHD Graphics). Most high-performance motherboards will provide an option for a separate PCIe-enabled GPU (with various Analog and / or Digital Video / LED connectivity ports). Before acquiring a high-performance GPU it is important to understand / verify the minimum power consumption requirement(s) for the GPU and the rest of the system components in terms of overall system Power Supply availability. I have achieved satisfactory performance standards with NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs over the years - connecting via HDMI (digital) to the primary editing LED and DVI (analogue) LED for Office / other applications.

Arktek NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti with 4GB of GDDR5 Memory GPU

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti with 4GB VRAM for Lightroom Classic

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti with 4GB of GDDR5 memory is a decent entry-level graphics card that can handle Adobe Lightroom quite well for basic to moderate photo editing tasks. It provides a good balance between performance and affordability, suitable for handling RAW image processing and basic photo adjustments smoothly. However, for heavier tasks or working with very large files or multiple layers, you might find its performance a bit limited compared to more powerful GPUs (Source: ChatGPT 2025)

Rogueware NX100S 256GB SATA3 2.5" 3D NAND Solid State Drive

Upgrading to SSD For Further Performance Boost

I replaced the original Seagate 1TB 3.5" SATA hard drive with a Rogueware NX100S 256GB SATA3 2.5" SSD for faster booting into Windows 10 Professional and general Lightroom processing performance. The original SATA drive now serves as an external drive with the image folders and other documents.

SATA Drive vs. SSD Performance

Comparing SATA drives (HDDs) and SSDs focuses on performance, speed, and efficiency. Here’s how they stack up:

Speed

• SATA HDDs: Use spinning platters and moving read/write heads, with speeds ranging from 80 - 160 MB/s.
• SATA SSDs: Use NAND flash memory, reaching speeds up to 550 MB/s.
• NVMe SSDs (for reference): Far faster, up to 7,000 MB/s.

Boot & Load Times

• SATA HDDs: Slower OS boot times (~30 - 60 sec) and longer game/application loading times.
• SATA SSDs: Faster OS boot (~5 - 15 sec) and significantly reduced loading times.

Durability & Reliability

• SATA HDDs: Prone to mechanical failures due to moving parts.
• SATA SSDs: More durable with no moving parts and better resistance to physical damage.

Power Consumption

• SATA HDDs: Consume more power (4 - 8W) due to spinning disks.
• SATA SSDs: Use less power (2 - 4W), improving battery life in laptops.

Noise & Heat

• SATA HDDs: Produces noise and heat due to mechanical components.
• SATA SSDs: Silent operation with minimal heat output.

Cost & Storage Capacity

• SATA HDDs: Cheaper per GB, commonly available in 1TB - 10TB+ sizes.
• SATA SSDs: More expensive per GB but becoming more affordable, typically 250GB - 4TB.

Longevity (Lifespan)

• SATA HDDs: Mechanical wear over time leads to failures.
• SATA SSDs: Limited write cycles (TBW - Terabytes Written), but generally lasts longer under normal use.

SSDs are superior in speed, durability, efficiency, and reliability. HDDs are still useful for high-capacity, low-cost storage (e.g., backups, archives), while SSDs are better for performance-critical tasks like gaming, OS booting, and professional workloads. (Source: ChatGPT 2025)

Casual Lightroom Processing with Intel Aspire i3 Notebook / Windows 11

Intel Aspire Core i3 Notebook Computer with 20GB DDR4 RAM / 256 SSD

Acer Aspire Notebook Lightroom RAW processing

For casual processing with only a few CR2 / CR3 files I find my Intel Aspire Core i3-1005G1, 15,6" LED, Windows 11 System quite up to the task. With 20GB of (Dual Channel) DDR4 RAM, onboard Intel UHD Graphics and 256GB Western Digital SSD while connected with external mouse / keyboard / 24" LED performs like a 'mini-workstation'. The only caveat is that notebook computer must be plugged into a main power source for best performance - the high-performance battery selection is not a serious option for RAW file processing in Lightroom 14. I generally use it mostly for a few last minute RAW or JPG corrections before online publishing.

There is an additional embedded NVM drive upgrade section in the notebook to expedite to a faster PCIE NVME M.2 SSD (when required). Currently the 500MB and 1TB options are still quite expensive, but it is nevertheless a viable option for consideration to extract more performance out of the Acer Aspire i3 notebook.

Minimum and Recommended Adobe Lightroom System Requirements

Cape Bulbul, Kirstenbosch : Lightroom Classic Version 14 (Intel Aspire Notebook)

Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Intaka Island | Kirstenbosch Garden | Woodbridge Island

Applying Intuition during Action Photography

Using Intuition for Birds in Flight Photography

Swift Tern After a Dive : Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

"It is my intention to present – through the medium of photography – intuitive observations of the natural world which may have meaning to the spectators." - Ansel Adams

Introduction

It is well-document throughout the Vernon Chalmers Photography website that more attention on visual intuition and human behaviour is asserted than any Canon camera / lens in my hands at any given time.

It took me more than ten years through existential motivation and onsite learning to anticipate birds in flight, flight movements at Woodbridge Island, Cape Town to understand their actions / reactions. During this time I made very little change to my Canon camera equipment, but spent long periods of time learning birds in flight behaviour and the various environmental variables / conditions in capturing many of the various bird species in action at Woodbridge Island. - Vernon Chalmers

Pied Kingfisher after a Successful Dive : Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

Importance of Intuition 

"Vernon Chalmers emphasizes the importance of intuition in photography and life 1. He believes that trusting your intuition is crucial for capturing meaningful and spontaneous moments 1. Here are some of his thoughts on intuition:

• Photography as Intuition: Vernon views the camera as a sketchbook and an instrument of intuition and spontaneity 2. He encourages photographers to trust their intuition and focus on the moment rather than striving for a perfect shot 1.
  
  
• Human Perception: He believes that human perception and perspective through the viewfinder are more important than the science and technology in one's hands 1. This approach allows for a more authentic and emotionally resonant experience 1.
  
  Enjoy the Process: Vernon advises photographers to enjoy the special moments and work towards an ideal exposure rather than obsessing over technical perfection 1." (Source: Microsoft Copilot 2024)
  
  

Yellow-Billed Duck in Flight : Over the Milnerton Golf Course, Woodbridge Island

Intuition in Photography

"Intuition in photography refers to the ability to instinctively recognize moments, compositions, or lighting conditions that will create impactful images without relying heavily on conscious analysis or predefined rules.

It’s often described as a "feeling" or "gut instinct" that guides photographers to make creative decisions in the moment. Intuition plays a vital role in various aspects of photography:

1. Capturing the Moment

• Photographers with strong intuition can anticipate and capture decisive moments, such as fleeting expressions, spontaneous interactions, or transient natural light. This is particularly significant in genres like street photography, wildlife photography, and event photography.

2. Composition and Framing

• Rather than meticulously planning every shot, intuitive photographers often "see" the composition before it’s fully formed in their viewfinder. They instinctively understand balance, leading lines, and the rule of thirds, sometimes breaking these rules for artistic impact.

3. Emotional Connection

• Intuition helps photographers connect emotionally with their subjects, whether they’re people, landscapes, or still life. This connection often translates into images that evoke strong emotions in viewers.

4. Adapting to Conditions

• Lighting, weather, or unexpected events may require quick adjustments. Intuition allows photographers to adapt creatively, choosing the right angles, settings, or techniques to make the most of changing circumstances.

5. Developing Intuition

• Although it might seem innate, intuition in photography can be cultivated:Practice: The more you shoot, the more you develop a sense of what works.

• Observation: Study the work of skilled photographers and analyze what resonates with you.

• Experimentation: Trying different styles, settings, and subjects enhances your ability to "feel" your way into a shot.

•  Mindfulness: Being present and fully engaged with your environment sharpens your ability to notice subtle details and opportunities.

• Intuition and Technology
  While modern technology like AI-driven autofocus and computational photography assists in technical aspects, intuitive photographers often use these tools to complement their        creative instincts rather than replace them.

Connection with Vernon Chalmers' Work

Since you’re interested in Vernon Chalmers existential motivation, it’s worth noting that intuition can play a significant role in aligning personal purpose with photographic expression. For Chalmers, intuition might manifest in his ability to connect with his subjects, be it the Cape Town landscapes or birdlife, capturing their essence in a way that resonates with meaning and his view of life." (Source: ChatGPT 2024)

All Images Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography

All Images Created with Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens 

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Intaka Island

Understanding Lens Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD)

Lens Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) is an important consideration when longer focal length lenses (i.e. 300mm to 400mm) are used for close-up (butterflies and / or flower) photography.

Lens Minimum Focusing Distance : Canon Lenses

Updated: Understanding MFD of Canon Camera Lenses

Lens Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) : Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

What is Lens Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD)?
MFD is the minimum distance between a camera sensor and image / subject in front of the lens that will allow focus with a specific lens. Lens MFD is measured in meters (and displayed as such i.e. 0.98m or 3.5m).

MFD is an important factor for close-up photography when using zoom or non-zoom lenses (with / without lens extension tubes or lens close-up filters).

Most modern Canon EF and RF 300mm - 500mm (and other) telephoto / zoom lenses will have reasonable MFD's for capturing close-up subjects such as butterflies and flowers.

Canon Lens MFD Examples:

• Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens MFD = 0.90m
• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens MFD = 0.98m
• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens MFD = 1.8m
• Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens MFD = 3.5m

Helmeted Guineafowl at Kirstenbosch Garden

Helmeted Guineafowl at an MFD of 0.98m using the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens at Kirstenbosch. As this image was in the shade I would certainly not achieved the same image quality / MFD with the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens.

Helmeted Guineafowl with MFD @ .98m : EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

Higher quality lenses will allow substantial cropping for creating expectable to reasonably high-quality close-up images of butterflies and flowers. Being a few meters away in creating a close-up image of a butterfly or a flower should still yield an acceptable result.

The specific Canon EOS / EOS R Full Frame or APS-C camera body used (ito image sensor, megapixels, etc.) could also have an impact on cropping (and additional post-processing) quality of the image.

Macro and Close-Up Photography Training Cape Town

For the attached butterfly images (at Woodbridge Island) I used the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens while photographing birds in flight.

For most of my Kirstenbosch butterfly and flower images I use the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (Mark I) lens.

Understanding Lens Minimum Focusing Distance

"The minimum focusing distance of a lens refers to the closest distance at which a lens can focus and still form a sharp image on the camera sensor or film. It's the minimum distance between the subject being photographed and the camera sensor when the subject is in focus. This distance varies depending on the lens and its focal length.

Several factors contribute to the Minimum Focusing Distance:

1. Lens Design: Different lenses have varying construction and capabilities. Macro lenses, for example, are designed to focus at much closer distances compared to standard lenses. This is because they are optimized for close-up photography.

2. Focal Length: In general, lenses with longer focal lengths tend to have a longer minimum focusing distance. Telephoto lenses, due to their longer focal lengths, often have longer minimum focusing distances compared to wide-angle or standard lenses.

3. Internal Mechanism: The internal structure and mechanisms of the lens play a significant role. Some lenses have a floating element design or internal focusing mechanisms that allow them to focus at very close distances.

4. Camera System: The minimum focusing distance is also influenced by the camera system itself. The distance between the lens mount and the sensor or film in the camera body can affect the lens's ability to focus at close distances.

When a lens reaches its minimum focusing distance, it may not be able to focus on subjects closer than that distance, resulting in blurry images or difficulty achieving focus. This limitation is especially relevant in scenarios where photographers want to capture very small subjects or details at extremely close range.

Some lenses, particularly macro lenses, are specifically designed to excel at focusing on subjects at very close distances, making them suitable for capturing small objects with great detail, such as insects, flowers, or other intricate subjects.

Understanding a lens's minimum focusing distance is crucial for photographers, especially for those interested in macro or close-up photography. It allows them to determine the closest distance from which they can capture sharp and detailed images using their specific lenses." (Source: ChatGPT 2023)

The Theory of Photography

Butterfly Woodbridge Island with Canon 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens

Small Flower Kirstenbosch, Canon 70D / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens